Written By: Sarah Bateman, LCSW
Liaison to the Jewish Community
Bulimia is often misunderstood. Those who struggle with bulimia are often left feeling like they don’t fit into any category, are not sick enough to deserve treatment, or are not “typical” sufferers of an eating disorder. This blog breaks down misconceptions, fosters empathy, and raises awareness, so that anyone battling bulimia can feel seen, understood, and empowered to seek the help they need.
Bulimia is defined as regular episodes of binging (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, often with a feeling of being out of control,) followed by regular periods of purging (compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food.) Bulimia is a serious mental health condition, and bingeing and purging can be defined in multiple ways.
When someone’s struggles go unrecognized or misunderstood, they may not receive the help they truly need and deserve. Friends and family often miss the signs or underestimate their seriousness, which can delay or prevent the involvement of professionals. At the same time, those who are suffering may feel ashamed, isolated, or unable to reach out for the support that could change — or even save — their lives.
Stereotype #1: Bingeing means eating unhealthy foods
Binging is defined as eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, often accompanied by an out of control feeling. There is no one type of food that constitutes a binge food. Although people often end up binging on foods they avoid or deem “unhealthy,” a binge can happen with any food. A large amount of any food can be considered unhealthy. Attempting to avoid a certain food because of fear of losing control leads to that food being more likely to be included in a binge. It’s important to know that eating any food too quickly, or in too large of a quantity with a feeling of loss of control, can be considered a binge.
Stereotype #2: Purging means throwing up
People commonly believe that bulimia means throwing up. The term purging refers to any form of getting rid of the calories that one consumed in a binge. This does not solely mean self- induced vomiting. Purging can take many forms such as excessive exercise, the use of laxatives or fasting after eating.
It’s important to realize how this common misconception can lead to missed diagnoses or people feeling their struggles are invalid.
Someone spending hours working out in the gym may not realize they have bulimia. Someone who starts taking laxatives innocently when they are constipated may not realize that the habit they’ve built of taking multiple laxatives every day could mean they have bulimia.
Everyone should understand that bulimia manifests in various ways and all symptoms deserve attention and care.
Stereotype #3: People with bulimia look thin
Another common misconception is the belief that all individuals with bulimia fit a specific body type. The reality is that bulimia affects people of all shapes, sizes, and weights. Physical appearance is not a reliable indicator of someone’s health or struggles. People may begin struggling with bulimia at any weight or size, and their weight or size may or may not be changed by their symptom use. Additionally, changes in bodies may be occurring internally and are not reflected in a person’s outward appearance in any way.
Again, this can lead to harmful implications including missed diagnoses and the invalidation of people in diverse bodies seeking help. It’s key to remember that eating disorders are not limited to one look or size, and that anyone in any body type may be suffering. Appearance is not a reflection of whether someone has an eating disorder or needs help for their eating disorder symptoms.
READ MORE: “They Don’t Look Like They Have an Eating Disorder”
Stereotype #4: Bulimia only affects young white women
Another common stereotype is the notion that bulimia primarily impacts white adolescent girls or young women. Bulimia affects people of all genders, ages, and cultural backgrounds. Men, older adults, and people from Black, indigenous, and communities of color all suffer from eating disorders. Due to these commonly held stereotypes, men, older adults, and non-white individuals are often not diagnosed or referred for treatment and are not aware that they are deserving of help and treatment.
In order to make sure that all individuals have access to culturally appropriate treatment for eating disorders, we must all challenge the notion that bulimia only affects women, only pertains to white people, and is a disease that only young people suffer from.
A man who is obsessively overexercising after eating large amounts of food may have bulimia and not get help because he thinks only women who vomit have bulimia.
A black woman abusing laxatives after eating may be suffering from bulimia and deserves treatment even if she is not what her doctor pictures as a person struggling with an eating disorder.
A 70-year-old grandmother who is engaging in self-induced vomiting after eating large amounts of food deserves help for her bulimia even if her medical professionals don’t think of her as the typical profile of someone who has bulimia.
Men, older adults, and people from BIPOC communities face stigma when seeking help for bulimia, and we must all work to challenge gendered and cultural assumptions to foster inclusive understanding and support.
Stereotypes #5: Bulimia is a choice
Another common and harmful misconception is that bulimia is a choice. Attributing bulimia to a matter of willpower or personal failure disregards it as a serious mental health condition. Besides being inaccurate, this can increase stigma and pressure that a person who is suffering may already be feeling. Therefore, rather than getting the help they desperately need, they may blame themselves, feel shame that they are not strong enough to fight it on their own, or refuse help because they believe they should be able to fix it themselves.
This misconception is incredibly dangerous, as a person with bulimia is often already feeling out of control, and they may only feel more out of control and blame themselves even more for their inability to control their behaviors. This may, in fact, increase their use of eating disorder behaviors.
Bulimia is not a choice and most people suffering are not able to stop symptoms on their own. Furthermore, the idea that they should have only increase the shame and out of control feelings that may lead to further symptom use and keep them from accessing support. People who have bulimia are not choosing to suffer and deserve help like anyone suffering from any illness.
Stereotype #6: Recovery from bulimia is quick and straightforward
Eating disorders are multi-faceted illnesses and effective treatment must cover all the facets. Recovery is not a linear process, and individuals cannot “just stop.” This assumption diminishes the ongoing nature of healing and the need for comprehensive support.
Besides showing a lack of understanding, this assumption is harmful because it does not allow for the ups and downs that are a natural part of the healing process.
Setbacks and challenges are a normal part of the recovery process. What matters most is learning new tools and strategies to navigate them, rather than expecting to be better with no further difficulties. There is never just one reason that someone suffers from an eating disorder, and effective treatment will cover many different facets of the illness and allow for ups and downs along the way. A lapse does not have to mean that one is having a relapse.
READ MORE: Returning to Eating Disorder Treatment After a Relapse
Conclusion
In conclusion, we must break down these common stereotypes so that all people who are suffering from bulimia or any kind of eating disorder can receive culturally appropriate, compassionate, and informed treatment.
By informing ourselves and spreading accurate information, we can challenge biases, and advocate for all individuals with eating disorders to be able to receive care.
If you or someone you love is struggling with bulimia, know that you’re not alone, and you deserve support. The Renfrew Center offers specialized care rooted in compassion, expertise, and understanding. Reach out today to take the first step toward healing.
